From ‘Third Time’s the Charm’ to Counseling, Coordinating & Teaching

By Elisabeth Costanzo Stewart

When Justin Lynady (HSCD ’12) stands in front of his “Psychology of Addiction” class, his students see Professor Lynady, the Regional Coordinator for the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) and substance abuse counselor with more than a decade of experience in direct service.

What they may not know about their instructor, however, is that when he was a SUNY Broome student, it took him not one, not two, but three times to complete his associate degree.

Lynady doesn’t just believe in community colleges; He’s a living example of what can happen when a student is given the space, education, and resources to develop into who they are meant to be. Not only did SUNY Broome give Lynady the foundation for his career as both a behavioral health clinician and administrator, but it also taught him to love the classroom.

Since earning his Chemical Dependency Counseling: A.A.S. degree, Lynady has added a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), Master of Social Work (MSW), Master of Business Administration (MBA), and a handful of specialized substance abuse counseling certifications to his curriculum vitae. He is currently completing his Doctorate​ ​of​ ​Education​ ​(​EdD​)​, proving that a degree from SUNY Broome can equally prepare students for the workforce and advanced academia.

Though initially a very bright Binghamton High School student, Lynady contracted severe ‘senioritis’ in his final year, and ultimately earned his GED.  As a first-generation college student, he feared that his high school GPA would prevent him from attending SUNY Broome — not understanding the College’s open enrollment policy — and spent a few years tackling odd jobs in the workforce. Then Lynady’s sister encouraged him to join her at their community’s college, assuring him he’d be welcomed. But, after two semesters in the Business: Marketing, Management & Sales: A.A.S. program, he realized, ultimately, it was not for him.

His second stint at SUNY Broome led him to examine his professional strengths. “I flipped through the course catalog and asked myself, ‘What are my strong suits,’ Lynady said. “When I turned to the chemical dependency counseling (CDC) page, I thought to myself, I thought to myself, ‘I like talking to people. Maybe I could talk to people and make an impact?”

Lynady made it through the first few semesters as a CDC major before the pressures of being a full-time student and a full-time night employee collided.

Thankfully, the third time proved to be a charm, and a more mature and driven Lynady returned to campus, but this time, with a mentor. Enter Emeritus Professor Francis Battisti (BT ’68).

One day, Dr. Battisti announced to Lynady’s class that Keuka College was tabling on campus. After explaining the details of an articulation agreement between the two colleges that led to Keuka College’s BSW program, he offered students extra credit if they spoke to the representative. Lynady followed the opportunity, and the rest is history.

“I really appreciate Dr. Battisti’s efforts to expose his students to opportunities and help them find their path,” Lynady reflected. “For me, it was two-fold. Not only did Dr. Battisti encourage me to pursue advanced degrees in social work, but he also gave me my first experience in administration-level work when he invited me to be a student representative for the College’s Strategic Vision Committee. I believe that my professional roles now have a lot to do with his guidance during such a critical stage in my education.”

After graduating from SUNY Broome, Lynady completed his BSW at Keuka College, then went on to earn a joint MSW/MBA from Marywood University. Because chemical dependency counseling and social work are rooted in assisting fellow individuals to navigate life, each program includes comprehensive, supervised clinical internships.

“Internships are critical for success within our field. We are working with real lives, human to human,” Lynady explained. “I also believe that everyone should experience working in a residential setting. You learn really quickly how to build trust as a counselor in that type of care environment.”

A perk of the internship model is that it connects students with future employers. Soon after graduating, Lynady was hired as a Direct Care Addiction Counselor.

While he loved supporting his clients’ recovery goals, he was also drawn to the administrative side of social work. A natural problem solver who thrives on developing positive solutions to complex issues, Lynady transitioned to program director, under the guidance of his mentor, Bill Rusen.

He learned how to develop policies and procedures, build community networks, and lead a team of professionals, employing the same approach he used when facilitating group therapy sessions: by respecting each member for the balance they bring.

Lynady eventually became the OASAS Regional Coordinator for the Central Regional Office. He supports 17 counties, leading a team of dedicated program managers who liaise between regional prevention, treatment, and recovery agencies in New York State. 

In addition to his position at OASAS, Lynady returned to SUNY Broome, but this time as an adjunct instructor, teaching courses in “Current Topics In Chemical Dependency Treatment,” “Psychology of Addiction,” and “Chemical Dependency Counseling II.”

While no longer in direct clinical service, he finds instructing the next wave of future CASACs to be equally rewarding. All of his roles are different, but he notes, “I am so honored to have such a unique arrangement of opportunities that all funnel to the same mission of supporting the ultimate hope of healthy living.” 

Read more inspiring stories in the Spring 2025 edition of BROOME Magazine: https://bit.ly/broomespr2025

Tags: Alumni, Chemical Dependency Counseling AAS and Cert, Liberal Arts Division, Profile, SUNY Broome Foundation